Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42014931›Full record

ReviewCancer medicine2026

Oncosexology: A Narrative Review on Sexual Health and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients.

Pasquale Marino, Roberta Colangelo, Paola Amendola, Ilaria Bochicchio, Alessandro Rocco Lettini, Stefania Lapadula, Alda Giuliano, Martina Catalano, Francesca Sanseverino

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancer medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Pasquale MarinoLaboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1796-8024
Roberta ColangeloLaboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5846-0868
Paola AmendolaUnit of Clinical Psychology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
Ilaria BochicchioUnit of Clinical Psychology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
Alessandro Rocco LettiniUnit of Clinical Psychology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
Stefania LapadulaUnit of Clinical Psychology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
Alda GiulianoUnit of Clinical Psychology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
Martina CatalanoDepartment of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Francesca SanseverinoUnit of Oncological Gynecology, IRCCS-CROB Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Della Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.

Funding

Ministry of Health ID 2792857
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer remains a major global public health problem. A key aspect of cancer care among survivors is sexual health. Cancer patients experience a range of sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and reduced libido. Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, and body image issues often exacerbate these problems, leading to impaired emotional and relational functioning. Despite their profound impact on quality of life, these concerns are not systematically addressed in routine cancer care. Oncosexology fits into this context, addressing the profound impact of cancer and its treatments on sexual health and intimacy.

objectivesThis narrative review provides an overview of the current evidence on sexual dysfunction in adult cancer patients, including psychosocial correlates and available interventions, to help clinicians understand the scope, challenges, and management strategies related to sexual health in oncology.

methodThe study was conducted by searching major scientific databases using search terms related to sexual health in cancer patients. Inclusion criteria were studies involving adult cancer patients, focusing on sexual health outcomes, therapeutic interventions, or care models, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Articles were selected based on the relevance of their findings and the quality of their presentation.

resultsData published in the literature show that sexual dysfunctions are common in cancer populations and often co-occur with psychological problems such as anxiety, fatigue, and altered body image. Interventions range from pharmacological treatments to psychosocial and psychosexual counseling and multidisciplinary care models. The results also highlight that, despite the difficulties patients and healthcare providers encounter in communicating about these topics, multidisciplinary interventions can help reduce these dysfunctions.

conclusionsIntegrating sexual health into cancer care is essential to promoting overall well-being and supporting long-term survival. Further high-quality, cancer-specific research is needed to support evidence-based, patient-centered interventions across diverse cancer populations.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsQuality of LifeSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalSexual HealthFemaleHumansMalecancer sexual healthcancer survivorshiponcologyoncosexologyquality of lifesexual dysfunction in oncology

Identifiers

PMID42014931
PMCPMC13099367

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.